ScorecardGraeme van Buuren and Kieran Noema-Barnett staged a gritty rearguard action to thwart Kent’s quest for a fourth straight Specsavers County Championship win and salvage a draw for Gloucestershire on the final day of the match at Bristol.Teetering on 219 for 6 after following-on and forced to contend with the new ball, Gloucestershire were between a rock and a hard place going into the final session.But just as they did when posting a stand of 104 in the first innings, the seventh-wicket pair served up defiance aplenty in a partnership that was worth exactly 100 when van Buuren fell to Daniel Bell-Drummond in the early-evening gloom.Noema-Barnett (42 not out) and Craig Miles (2 not out) saw it through to the end and the home side were 322 for 7 in their second innings when the players finally shook hands, leaving Kent with 12 points and Gloucestershire seven.Resuming on 73 without loss, still 269 behind, and charged with the task of batting throughout the day, Gloucestershire initially made a decent fist of things, openers Benny Howell and Chris Dent seeing off Matt Henry and staging a restorative stand of 114 in 40 overs.Howell’s 128-ball resistance ended when a full-length delivery from Harry Podmore kept low and pinned him lbw for 76. New batsman Gareth Roderick departed soon afterwards, bagging a pair after being squared up by a ball from Ivan Thomas that kept low.But even then, Gloucestershire had no call to panic as Dent, who went to 50 from 141 balls, mustered stubborn resistance in an innings spanning four hours and 15 minutes.Injured on the third day and only declared fit to continue after a morning net, Podmore struck again after lunch to remove Dent with the score on 182 and initiate a slide which altered the entire complexion of the match.Suddenly under pressure, the home side suffered a mini-collapse, four batsmen falling for the addition of 37 runs inside 21 overs.James Bracey was lbw playing back to Joe Denly, and Kent’s captain then extracted turn from the Pavilion End to beat Jack Taylor’s defences. Thereafter, Darren Stevens struck with the new ball, Ryan Higgins playing a loose drive and edging to first slip to further increase Gloucestershire’s discomfiture.Denly tried everything at his disposal to effect a breakthrough in the final session, deploying spin into the rough from the Pavilion End while rotating his seamers at the other end and using seven bowlers in all. But van Buuren and Noema-Barnett remained obdurate, dealing with whatever was thrown at them to frustrate Kent at every turn.Demonstrating sound temperament and technique, van Buuren chiselled 59 from 141 balls, while the equally patient Noema-Barnett controlled his aggressive instincts in an innings that spanned 129 deliveries.

West Ham United have had a plethora of talented players over their 128-year history. The Boleyn Ground has played host to a number of gifted footballers and now it's the London Stadium that stages the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paquetá, amongst others.

So, today at Football FanCast, we've decided to compile a West Ham United best XI, from both the past and present. Without further ado, here is our starting line-up.

Goalkeeper – Ludek Miklosko

In goal is the assured presence of Ludek Miklosko, who racked up a remarkable 374 appearances for the Irons across an eight-year spell at the club.

During his time in East London, the Czech won the Hammer of the Year accolade and famously denied Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United team from winning the Premier League title, having held the visitors to a 1-1 draw thanks to his several goal-preventing saves.

Miklosko, who rejoined West Ham as goalkeeping coach in 2001, is clearly fondly remembered for his time at the Hammers as his name is often sung on the terraces.

Right-back – Steve Potts

Perhaps many will question Steve Potts' positioning in this 11, given he played his fair share of games at centre-back, but he did feature in this role. And the East Londoners have had a shortage of excellent right-backs, so we've moved Potts across to the right.

The former Dagenham and Redbridge defender was a stalwart for the Hammers, making over 500 appearances – the seventh most by any player in the club's history. He also donned the captain's armband for three years and won the Hammer of the Year award twice during that period.

So quite clearly, a worthy starter in our 11.

Centre-back – Bobby Moore

Sir Bobby Moore was an absolute shoo-in for this best-ever XI. The Hammers youth graduate made 349 appearances for the club across a 16-year spell and is widely considered as one of the greatest-ever centre-backs.

Moore captained West Ham for a decade and was also an integral part of England's first and only World Cup triumph in 1996, where he once again sported the captain's armband.

During Mexico's 1970 World Cup, the Essex-born defender was handed the near-impossible task of marking Brazil's Pelé, and yet he produced a marvellous performance and produced one of the sport's most iconic tackles on Jairzinho.

Moore's legendary status at West Ham was evinced when he had a stand named after him at the famous Boleyn ground. So, needless to say, this selection was an easy one in our starting lineup.

Centre-back – Billy Bonds

Partnering with Moore at centre-half we've gone for two-time FA Cup winner Billy Bonds – affectionately known as 'Bonzo'. The tough-tackling, no-nonsense defender embodies every meaning of the word; legend.

He spent an extraordinary 21 seasons at the East London club and won the Hammer of the Year award long after he celebrated his 40th birthday, which evidences his admirable commitment to the club. His mantra of 'doing a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay' bred success and his relentless work ethic was surely infectious on the rest of the squad.

Bonds will no doubt be uttered in conversations that explore West Ham's greatest-ever players and given he's held in such high regard, it again made his selection in our team very easy.

Left-back – Julian Dicks

Julian Dicks was named Hammer of the Year a whopping four times, evidencing just how great he was. The Bristol-born defender was a player who led by example and gave his all every time he stepped past that white line.

Across Dicks' impressive 189 West Ham appearances, he netted a striking 29 times, as his powerful left foot was often called upon to take free-kicks and penalties.

The former Liverpool player picked up the 'hard-man' reputation and adopted the nickname; 'The Terminator' for his tough tackling.

He completes our best XI back four.

Right-midfield – Dimitri Payet

Dimitri Payet, although not a right-sided midfielder, had to be in this 11. His short 18-month stint at the East London club saw him establish himself as one of the Premier League's best players.

The Frenchman's flair and creativity paired with his exceptional set-piece ability, made him simply unplayable at times. He netted 12 times whilst providing 15 assists in his debut season before starring for France at EURO 2016, helping them reach the final.

What's remarkable is the East Londoners only paid Marseille £10m for his services in 2015, which was extraordinary value at that time.

He eventually returned to his former club in January 2017 for a reported fee worth £25m and has continued to deliver magical moments with the French side. Now aged 36, he plies his trade in Brazil with first-division outfit Vasco da Gama.

Still to this day, his free-kick against Crystal Palace is played back by millions – marvelling at the extraordinary goal. Payet falls under the illustrious category of; a 'streets will never forget' player, which essentially translates to a loved and adored footballer by all.

Some will suggest he is one of West Ham's best-ever players, but there is little doubt he is one of the most talented to ever don the famous claret and blue strip.

His short but mesmeric spell at the East London club will live long in the memories of fans.

Midfield – Scott Parker

West Ham United outlaid £7m to sign Scott Parker from Newcastle United in June 2007 and it turned out to be exceptionally well-spent money.

The 18-cap England international spent four years at the club, making 129 appearances and winning the club's Hammer of the Year award in back-to-back seasons.

Remarkably, he also won the 2011 Football Writers Player of the Year award – fending off competition from Gareth Bale – in a season where his side suffered relegation to the second tier.

So despite being part of an inconsistent team for much of his four-year stay, Parker shone and produced countless accomplished performances.

Midfield – Trevor Brooking

Sir Trevor Brooking is certainly in the discussion for West Ham's best-ever player, and that alone is enough to justify his selection in this 11.

The legendary midfielder made a colossal 636 appearances for the East Londoners across a remarkable 17-year spell, scoring over a century of goals in the process.

The title; 'one-club man', is hardly used nowadays as it can't be applied to many players, but Brooking was exactly that. His devotion to the Hammers has continued long past his playing career as he became a member of the board and took charge as caretaker manager twice.

A true West Ham legend.

Left-midfield – Martin Peters

West Ham's academy graduate Martin Peters was a tremendous player, full of industry, pace and creativity. He made over 300 appearances for the Hammers and scored 81 goals.

Peters was part of England's 1966 World Cup-winning team. The Three Lions manager, Alf Ramsey, described him as being 'ten years ahead of his time'.

The Essex-born midfielder was extremely versatile and operated in most positions across the pitch, even as a goalkeeper!

Striker – Paolo Di Canio

Perhaps another contender for the Hammers' best-ever player, Paolo Di Canio. The flamboyant forward was a lively and popular character, capable of creating something out of nothing on the pitch.

During his four-season spell in East London, Di Canio netted 50 times whilst laying on 16 assists and is well-known for scoring one of the Premier League's most outrageous goals.

The Italian produced a moment of genius as he scissor-kicked a cross-field ball on the volley, with the outside of his foot, past the helpless Wimbledon goalkeeper.

Striker – Sir Geoff Hurst

Another England World Cup winner joins the 11…

Sir Geoff Hurst was a prolific goal scorer for club and country, scoring a colossal 119 goals in 281 outings for the Irons. He also notched 24 goals for England, with three of those coming in the World Cup final against West Germany.

Hurst was part of West Ham's 1964 FA Cup triumph, scoring in a 3-2 victory against Preston in the final and a year later he won the European Cup Winners Cup.

One of the finest forwards of his generation.

Manager – John Lyall

John Lyall is West Ham's most successful manager. Across his incredible 15-year spell – spanning from 1974 to 1989 – Lyall managed 770 games, winning 308 whilst leading his side to two FA Cup victories in 1975 and 1980. He also won the second-division title in 1981.

His period as Hammers boss was held in such high regard that the main gates at the Boleyn Ground were renamed 'The John Lyall Gates' in December 2009. The gates were relocated to West Ham's new stadium and are currently on display in the club's official shop.

So there you have it, West Ham's best-ever XI and manager. Here is the starting lineup in full:

Formation 4-4-2: Ludek Miklosko; Steve Potts, Bobby Moore, Billy Bonds, Julian Dicks; Dimitri Payet, Scott Parker, Trevor Brooking, Martin Peters; Paolo Di Canio, Geoff Hurst.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Paraná enfim pôde respirar. Depois de sete jogos sem vencer, o Tricolor massacrou o Oeste e voltou a sonhar com dias mais tranquilos na disputa da Série B.

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Após o confronto, o até então pressionado Allan Aal, comemorou o resultado e projeta a volta da confiança do elenco no decorrer dos jogos.

‘Logo depois do jogo, falei para os atletas que serviu de experiência, um entusiasmo a mais quando a gente estavam em primeiro, segundo ou terceiro em algumas rodadas. Então, isso não pode se repetir. Tem que servir de confiança, mas uma confiança com muita humildade’.

Agora, o Tricolor volta a campo na próxima sexta-feira, quando encara o Cruzeiro de Felipão, no Mineirão.

There will have been a point, somewhere before the summer transfer window, that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp would have sat in a room, round a table, with some associates all wearing the same furrow-browed expression.

The Anfield side wasn't performing well. In fact, Liverpool were playing some pretty dire stuff, falling to heavy defeats and showing scarcely any sign of the once mighty outfit that secured silverware in abundance under the German manager's wing.

Change was paramount, and with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all headed for the exit with their contracts set for expiry, the sapped midfield was clearly going to receive more than just a new lick of paint.

Help arrived in the form of a sweeping midfield rebuild, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister already cementing themselves as starring members.

Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch were also signed to help combat the sales of Fabinho and captain Jordan Henderson, who departed for the riches of the Saudi Pro League.

Last year, the Reds would ultimately fail to make the grade for the top four and missed out on an eighth successive year in Europe's elite club competition, now returning to the Europa League to claim the one trophy that has alluded Klopp during his Anfield odyssey.

How are Liverpool playing?

As The Times' Henry Winter put it, Liverpool were "really out of sorts" last season, and were it not for a return to form in the latter stages of the campaign, the club may well be plying their trade solely on English soil this term.

However, the Merseyside outfit have dazzled since the summer, wreaking devastation with their attacking prowess and currently riding a four-match win streak in the Premier League after drawing the opener against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Klopp looks to have unearthed the formula for high-octane success once more after toiling last year, and while unseating champions Manchester City from the Premier League throne – with Pep Guardiola's outfit searching for an unprecedented fourth successive title – there is evidence that the Reds can produce a lasting run of results to prove one of the fiercest competitors.

They haven't hit their zenith; far from it, in fact. Away victories over Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers were both emphatic and illustrated the winning mentality so intrinsic to this prestigious football club, but Liverpool fell behind on both occasions, also conceding first against Bournemouth at Anfield before winning that one 3-1.

With a trip against Austrian Bundesliga outfit LASK now forthcoming to commence the European campaign, Klopp's side will be hoping to continue their rich vein of form, though will likely do so with a much-changed starting eleven.

What is the Liverpool team news?

Trent Alexander Arnold has not quite recovered from a hamstring injury sustained against Aston Villa before the international break and will miss the clash, while Thiago Alcantara, who has not featured yet this season, is still not ready for an anticipated comeback.

Newly-appointed club captain Virgil van Dijk may also be involved after completing a suspension; rising star Jarell Quansah might be in line for a second consecutive start having impressed on his "phenomenal" – as was said by Alexander-Arnold – full debut against the Old Gold.

With a crucial home fixture in the league against West Ham United awaiting on Sunday, Klopp will definitely shake things up in Linz, with exciting summer signing Gravenberch sure to be itching for his starting debut after making a brief cameo last week.

How good is Ryan Gravenberch?

Joining from supreme German champions Bayern Munich in a £34m transfer on deadline day, Gravenberch ended a nightmarish spell in Bavaria that saw him earn just three league starts.

An immensely talented and multi-functional midfielder, Gravenberch was hailed as the "greatest talent" in the Netherlands by countryman and former Ajax striker Win Kieft, having excelled for de Godenzonen before joining Bayern, making 103 appearances and winning three Eredivisie titles.

The 11-cap Dutchman is both tenacious with his defensive work and artful in his creativity, also energetic and capable of working head to charge the midfield engine.

As per FBref, the 21-year-old ranks among the top 5% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 7% for successful take-ons, the top 18% for interceptions and the top 17% for progressive passes per 90.

Based on that evidence, there are discernible signs of a star in the making, and given Klopp's knack for shaping unrefined gems, he may well be a standout member of a prosperous Liverpool team in a few years.

It's a slow, arduous process, however, and the trip to LASK will provide the first brick of the foundation from which he can slowly build his career, with his technicality sure to leave him as the "dominant" – as he has been praised by former youth coach Brian Tevreden – force in the middle.

His all-encompassing arsenal could be perfect for Stefan Bajcetic too, with the precocious Spaniard yet to feature this season after impressing during his breakout year in 2022/23, cruelly curtailed by a long-term injury in March.

The midfielder, aged 18, has made the bench for the past four Premier League outings, but has not been selected for a second-half cameo as of yet.

He's clearly match fit though, and this is an apt opportunity to get him back up to speed, having been heralded for his youthful exuberance and being "so mature and composed for his age" by journalist Ben Bocsak.

A nimble, agile and energetic centre-midfielder, the former Celta Vigo youngster possesses a silky-smooth passing game married with a steely resolve in the centre, and Gravenberch's qualities would bounce off his smoothly.

There will be tougher tests ahead than LASK this season, but that is not to say that Thomas Sageder's outfit cannot disrupt Liverpool and consign Klopp to a first seasonal defeat.

The 56-year-old will use the contest to provide certain stars with an opportunity to impress, and the robust Gravenberch and the delightful Bajcetic could unearth a partnership for the ages to continue the conversation that this Liverpool team is not only revitalised, but reformed and now ready to emulate the previous illustrious success under Klopp's management.

An archive of our rolling Live Report, featuring news, updates, statistics, graphics and insight from our reporters at Headingley for the second Test

The Live Report by Andrew Miller01-Jun-2018Welcome to our new rolling report. This page will keep you up to date throughout the match, with updates from our team at the ground, stats and graphics, end-of-session reports, and more (if you don’t see the blog immediately, please hit refresh). But don’t worry, you can still follow traditional ball-by-ball commentary as well

Celtic are already making inroads ahead of the January transfer window and could look to pull off a surprise move to bring a £25m player to Glasgow, according to reports.

What's the latest news involving Celtic?

The Hoops have been in excellent form in the Scottish Premiership and sit top of the pile with a four point advantage over St Mirren, having recorded six wins and one draw from their opening seven fixtures. Motherwell became the latest team to come unstuck against Celtic last weekend, as a 97th minute strike from Matt O'Riley sealed a 2-1 victory for Brendan Rodgers' men at Fir Park in dramatic circumstances.

Away from the field, former Celtic icon Tom Rogic has announced his retirement from professional football to focus on his family and he gave special thanks to his old employers in a heartfelt post on Instagram, as cited by The Daily Record.

Rogic wrote: "I feel very lucky to have had a career where I spent the majority of my time playing at Celtic Football Club, one of the biggest clubs in the world, playing European football, winning many trophies and playing in front of 60,000 fans each week. I have also been lucky enough to represent my country with the Socceroos on over 50 occasions and experienced playing in major international tournaments."

International duty beckons after this weekend for a number of Celtic's first-team players and both club captain Callum McGregor and left-back Greg Taylor will link up with Scotland later this month as the Tartan Army attempt to seal qualification for EURO 2024, as per BBC Sport.

Former Celtic defender Kieran Tierney has sustained a significant injury on loan at Real Sociedad ahead of Scotland's double header against Spain and France, paving the way for Taylor to take his place.

Who are Celtic linked with?

Speaking of former players, 90min report that Celtic are believed to be 'open' to the possibility of bringing Portuguese winger Jota back to Parkhead in light of his ongoing omission from new side Al-Ittihad, which has led to the 24-year-old not being registered in their squad and rendered him unable to take to the field for his new side.

Nevertheless, facilitating any dramatic return that would see Jota pitch up at Parkhead will be an extremely difficult task, given that Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford, Everton, Crystal Palace, Fulham, and West Ham United are all keeping tabs on his current situation in Saudi Arabia.

Leaving for £25 million in the summer, Jota left Celtic fans gutted by his departure after racking up 28 strikes and 26 assists in 83 outings across all competitions. He is rumoured to be earning close to £200,000 per week in the Gulf region, which could potentially provide generational wealth for the Benfica youth product and would've been extremely hard to turn down, all things considered.

Dubbed "absolutely brilliant" by Queen of the South manager Marvin Bartley in 2022, he now looks to have been cast out by his current employers; however, it would take some serious financial muscle to tempt Jota to return to Parkhead in light of other potential options on the table for the talented attacker.

The two spinners took six wickets between them to fashion Afghanistan’s first T20I series win over Bangladesh

The Report by Mohammad Isam05-Jun-2018
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsRaton Gomes/BCBAfter teaming up with Rashid Khan to limit Bangladesh to 134 for 8, Mohammad Nabi smashed an unbeaten 31 off 15 balls to guide Afghanistan to their first T20I series win over a Test side other than Zimbabwe. Seventeen-year-old mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman also contributed to the win with 15 dots in a four-over spell.Rashid, Nabi and Mujeeb claimed combined figures of 6 for 46 in 12 overs to run through Bangladesh’s batting line-up. Rashid did the bulk of the damage, taking 4 for 12, including the vital wickets of Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mosaddek Hossain in one over, the 16th of the innings. Nabi, meanwhile, dismissed Sabbir Rahman and Mushfiqur Rahim.Bangladesh, though, had a positive start, moving to 81 for 3 in 10 overs, with opener Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah setting up for a late burst. However, two overs later, Karim Janat removed Mahmudullah to set Bangladesh up for a collapse.Rashid first had Shakib holing out to long-on before getting Tamim and Mosaddek off successive deliveries. In his next over, Rashid had Soumya Sarkar holing out to cap an outstanding spell. Abu Hider then launched some late blows with Nazmul Islam in a 26-run partnership for the ninth wicket off 13 balls to boost the total. Bangladesh’s highest stand was 45 between Tamim and Mushfiq but the pair could not find a tempo high enough to hurt Afghanistan.Afghanistan also started slowly in their chase and lost Mohammad Shahzad inside the Powerplay, but Samiullah Shenwari repaired the innings with 49 off 41 balls and took his side to within 20 runs of a series victory. With Afghanistan needing 20 off the last two overs, Nabi clobbered four boundaries in five balls off fast bowler Rubel Hossain to seal it in style.Bangladesh might rue not holding onto their chances. When Shahzad was scoreless in the first over, wicketkeeper Mushfiqur dropped a thick edge to reprieve him. The opener went onto hit four fours and a six in his 18-ball 24 to set the tone for the chase. Following Shahzad’s dismissal, Afghanistan went 30 balls without a boundary before Shenwari disdainfully pulled Rubel to the midwicket fence in the 11th over. He then hammered three sixes off spinners Mahmudullah and Mosaddek.Mosaddek bowled Shenwari in the 18th over to give Bangladesh hope but Nabi dashed it with a breathtaking late assault that ticked off another landmark for Afghanistan.

Aston Villa and Everton are two of the oldest clubs in the land, so naturally, they've played each other a fair few times over the years.

Everton are one of six clubs never to be relegated from the Premier League since its formation in 1992, though, that mantle is becoming increasingly threatened each season.

The Toffees appear likely to be in a third successive relegation battle this term, whilst Villa, on the other hand, have their eyes laid on a top-six finish.

Unai Emery, since arriving in the West Midlands last November, has completely changed the club's fortunes and catapulted his side into European contention.

Having finished in seventh place last season, the Villans are plying their trade in the UEFA Europa Conference League this year and will certainly have aspirations to win it as one of the favourites of the competition.

The pair will meet in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, and ahead of their clash, Football FanCast has decided to delve into the history of the fixture.

Aston Villa vs Everton: Who has the better head-to-head record?

Since records began, Aston Villa vs Everton is the most-played clash in English football, as both sides have a rich history of facing off against each other dating all the way back to 1888.

The Villans have a slight upper hand in terms of results spread over their time competing against each other; nevertheless, the pair sit on a fairly even playing field in terms of stature, which is reflected in the overall ratio of wins, draws or losses, either gained or suffered.

Historically, Aston Villa and Everton have always been regarded as stereotypical big clubs in the English game, with their finest hours coming in the 1980s regarding worldwide prominence.

Aston Villa won their last top-flight title in 1980/81 and secured a famous European Cup triumph in the year following, while Everton claimed First Division glory in 1984/85 and 1986/87, alongside winning the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1985 under the stewardship of Howard Kendall.

Aston Villa vs Everton: Who has the better cup record?

In a very close-run contest, Aston Villa have managed to shade one more victory than their rivals across the piece in their 18 meetings in total across all domestic cup competitions.

Given both sides have been involved in the upper echelons of the English game and are of a similar standing from a footballing point of view, seeing five draws in the overall count won't come as a surprise to many.

Looking at cup honours from a general standpoint, Aston Villa have racked up an impressive seven FA Cup wins and five League Cup triumphs. On the other hand, Everton have five FA Cup trophies to their name.

Aston Villa vs Everton: Who has more wins at Villa Park/Wellington Road?

Aston Villa reign supreme on home turf and have made their own ground a fortress when Everton come calling to the West Midlands.

From 1988 to 2003, the Villans actually never lost a single home clash against Everton in any competition, embarking on a 16-match unbeaten streak from the late eighties to beyond the swing of the millennium.

Despite this, Everton have enjoyed their share of the spoils along the way and provided their fair share of problems as a stubborn away opponent.

Aston Villa vs Everton: Who has more wins at Goodison Park or Anfield?

Yes, Everton were indeed briefly a tenant at Anfield before a dispute over rent led the Toffees to make a home for themselves at Goodison Park, which has become a treasured place for their fanatical home support.

On their own turf, Everton have managed to get the better of Aston Villa over the years, maintaining a strong record whenever the Villans travel from the West Midlands to Merseyside.

Aston Villa have still managed to get their own way on some occasions – especially in recent times, as they are currently on a four-match unbeaten run at Goodison Park.

Aston Villa vs Everton: What were the last six meetings?

20th August 2023 – Aston Villa 4-0 Everton: The Toffees were on the end of a thumping in the West Midlands last month, as Villa put four past them.

John McGinn broke the deadlock in the 18th minute which welcomed the floodgates to open as Douglas Luiz netted one shortly after, before Leon Bailey and Jhon Duran added a third and fourth.

The win for the Villans was a much-needed one following their damning 5-1 defeat against Newcastle United in their season opener, whilst the defeat for the Toffees sunk them to rock bottom, having lost their first match at home to Fulham.

25th February 2023 – Everton 0-2 Aston Villa: In a game that carried major consequences at the bottom end of the table, goals from Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendia were enough to claim a comfortable victory for the visitors and plunge Everton into relegation territory.

Everton had 15 shots on goal during the match and looked threatening; however, they were profligate in front of the target and were subsequently punished by the ruthlessness of Emery's well-oiled Aston Villa outfit.

Most notably, this particular fixture will be remembered for Villa striker Watkins netting his fifth goal in five consecutive Premier League matches.

22nd August 2022 – Aston Villa 2-1 Everton: Steven Gerrard managed to guide his Aston Villa side to their first Premier League victory of 2022/23 in the reverse fixture back in August 2022, as strikes from Danny Ings and Emi Buendia cancelled out a late Lucas Digne own goal at Villa Park.

Frank Lampard was in charge of Everton for the clash and his side did threaten to take a point in the latter stages; nevertheless, the hosts claimed an overall deserved three points on home soil.

22nd January 2022 – Everton 0-1 Aston Villa: Once again, the scourge of Buendia condemned Everton to a loss against Premier League rivals Aston Villa, as the Argentina international headed in on the stroke of half-time to hand Toffees caretaker Duncan Ferguson a defeat in his second interim stint in charge.

Everton were toothless in front of goal and couldn't muster an all-important equaliser. At the same time, Aston Villa dug deep and threw bodies on the line to ensure they left Goodison Park with their clean sheet intact.

18th September 2021 – Aston Villa 3-0 Everton: Matty Cash, Leon Bailey and an own goal from Lucas Digne made sure of a dominant 3-0 victory for Aston Villa at home to Everton under Dean Smith, who claimed his second victory of the 2021/22 campaign.

Everton boss Rafael Benitez saw their four-match unbeaten run come to an end at Villa Park, and truth be told, it was the beginning of the downward spiral for the Spaniard at the club following his controversial appointment.

13th May 2021 – Aston Villa 0-0 Everton: Aston Villa and Everton played out a dismal 0-0 draw on the 35th matchday of the 2020/21 Premier League campaign, denting the visitors' hopes of securing continental qualification.

Jack Grealish returned to the fold as a second-half substitute for his boyhood club; however, the less said about this game is probably for the better.

Who has played for both Aston Villa and Everton?

Ashley Young (Aston Villa 2007-2011, 2021-2023; Everton 2023-present): The most obvious candidate here is ex-Villa icon Ashley Young, who featured 247 times for the Villans over two separate spells in the West Midlands, registering 38 goals and 60 assists, as per Transfermarkt.

This summer, the 38-year-old completed a move to Everton on a free transfer and could well be involved this weekend against his former employers, having started for the Blues last Saturday in their opening-day defeat to Fulham.

Gareth Barry (Aston Villa 1998-2009; Everton 2013-2017): Taking a trip down memory lane, former England international Gareth Barry enjoyed a distinguished career in the English top flight and spent 11 years of his senior career at Aston Villa, becoming one of the most important players at the club in the heart of the engine room.

The 42-year-old moved to Manchester City in 2011 and became a Premier League and FA Cup champion before initially joining Everton on a season-long loan deal in 2013.

Hastings-born Barry would turn his move to Goodison Park into a permanent one a year later and racked up over 150 appearances for the Blues before finishing his career at West Bromwich Albion.

Lucas Digne (Everton 2018-2022; Aston Villa 2022-present): Another name associated with both clubs in recent times is Lucas Digne, who arrived at Aston Villa from Everton last year after four years on Merseyside.

Despite a promising start to his time at Villa Park, Unai Emery could be set to move on the Frenchman this summer and is open to offers for the 30-year-old before the transfer window closes, according to The Daily Mail.

What is Aston Villa's biggest victory over Everton?

5th November 1989 – Aston Villa 6-2 Everton: Aston Villa's biggest-ever victory against Everton came back in 1989, where goals from Kent Nielsen, Gordon Cowans and doubles from David Platt and Ian Olney shot the Villans into a 6-0 lead on home soil.

Despite surrendering a pair of late consolation goals, Aston Villa inflicted a trouncing on their league rivals and managed to move up to fourth place in the old First Division.

It's worth noting that Villa equalled their biggest-ever victory against Wednesday's opposition last month, as they won by a four-goal margin (4-0).

What is Everton's biggest victory over Aston Villa?

4th January 1890: Everton 7-0 Aston Villa: Very little data is available surrounding this fixture due to the fact that it happened so long ago; however, Everton defeated Aston Villa 7-0 in 1890, which remains their biggest victory over the Villans to date.

The Toffees finished runners-up behind champions Preston North End in what was the second season of the Football League.

Aston Villa vs Everton: Classic meetings

7th December 2008 – Everton 2-3 Aston Villa: Ashley Young scored an injury-time winner for Aston Villa to break Everton hearts at Goodison Park.

The home side thought they had earned a share of the spoils after Joleon Lescott equalised in the dying embers just seconds earlier.

Lescott and Young both scored braces for their respective sides, while Steve Sidwell got the visitors up and running with a strike in the first minute of the game.

2nd February 2013 – Everton 3-3 Aston Villa: In a pulsating Premier League bout at Goodison Park, Marouane Fellaini produced some heroics in the second half to score a double, including an injury-time equaliser, to ensure that Everton claimed a deserved point at home to Aston Villa.

The Villans lost their chance to lay claim to a first victory of 2013 and were stuck in the relegation zone due to their failure to collect all three points on the road.

The U.S. claimed another big trophy while making the path toward this summer's Olympic tournament just a bit clearer.

Back to their winning ways. Not completely, to be fair, but it's a heck of a start. Last year's World Cup disappointment remains on the mind of everyone associated with the U.S. women's national team but, if you were looking for a reason for optimism ahead of this summer's Olympics, this Gold Cup run was it.

It wasn't perfect, not by a long shot. The loss to Mexico showed that this is still a team with flaws that can be exposed by good teams. The response after that, though, showed that this team has the heart and soul to play past those flaws in ways we didn't see Down Under last summer.

By the end, the U.S. hadn't dominated the Gold Cup as much as they'd survived it. There were moments of domination, yes, but those were to be expected. What wasn't expected was how this team responded to the moments of adversity. Physical battles, rain, setbacks, injuries… this tournament threw plenty at the USWNT and, by and large, they didn't flinch.

That'll be the big takeaway from this summer's Gold Cup when it comes to the big picture. This is a team that needs to rediscover itself, and this was a step toward doing that. From a different point of view, though, this was also a tournament that offered a glimpse into which players will be around to do that this summer when the Olympics kick off.

Summer will be here before you know it. The Olympic games are just a blink or two away. The USWNT knows that as well as anyone. Preparation has began, and this round of preparation ended with a trophy that should provide a much-needed lift to a program back on the rise.

GOAL takes a look at the biggest winners and losers from the Gold Cup…

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  WINNER: Alex Morgan

  She's back!

  It looked like her USWNT career was in trouble. A testimonial might have been all that was left, which would have been a rough way to say goodbye to a legend. After being left out of the initial Gold Cup roster, it was tough to see a way back for Morgan in time for the Olympics this summer.

  However, she has a chance now and after a resurgent Gold Cup, she's certainly back in the mix.

  Brought in as an injury replacement, Morgan stepped right into the USWNT XI and showed all of the things she can bring as a No. 9. It's not pure speed and goals like it used to be. No, Morgan's game is a bit more nuanced now and, when used right, it can be effective.

  She finished the tournament with two goals for the USWNT, scoring once from the spot and the other being a looping header. More important, though, were the little things she did to drag defenses around and create for those around her.

  Will that be enough to get her into the Olympic squad? That's for Emma Hayes to decide. The most Morgan can do is make her case, and she did that during the Gold Cup.

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  LOSER: Mia Fishel

  On the flip side of that Morgan discussion is Mia Fishel, the player that she replaced. How heartbreaking that situation is as Fishel seemed ready to seize a big opportunity this spring.

  With Morgan not originally called in, it seemed Fishel was going to get the chance to show why she's the USWNT striker of the future. Sophia Smith was in camp too, of course, and seemed set to take a chunk of minutes centrally, but one of the more exciting experiments seemed like it would be what an attacking united of Smith, Fishel and Trinity Rodman would look like.

  And then it happened. Her ACL tear just before the tournament knocked Fishel out of not just this tournament, but the Olympics later this year. It was an awful break for a player who had earned a chance to stake her claim with the very best after a few solid cameos in 2023.

  Now, that'll have to wait. Fishel has a long road to recovery. She'll return, no doubt, but so much will change between now and then. This was her first big chance and it won't be her last, but it's a big, big shame she didn't get the opportunity to seize it.

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  WINNER: Jaedyn Shaw

  The big star of this tournament and, quite possibly, many tournaments to come.

  Just 19 years old, Shaw was awarded the Golden Ball for this tournament, an absolutely wild achievement when you think about it. Her USWNT career is just getting started, but she's already racking up major international honors.

  They're deserved, too.

  Shaw led the USWNT in goals with four, even though she didn't even start three of the matches, including the final. The USWNT has seemed content to ease Shaw into the picture, but that time is over. She has officially arrived.

  The teenager has a bright, bright future, but it's all coming even faster than expected. Prior to this tournament, the question was what the U.S. would do with her come Olympic time. Now, the question is what the U.S. would even look like without her going forward.

  In a loaded attacking pool, Shaw has bullied her way in and she's only going to get better, too, which is a scary thought for anyone lining up on the other side. Now, with a big tournament under her belt, this summer feels like it may just be her real breakout onto the world stage.

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  LOSER: Goalkeepers not named Alyssa Naeher

  For a while, it felt like a goalkeeper race was brewing. After this Gold Cup, though, it feels pretty obvious what the plan is going forward.

  The USWNT played six games during this tournament. Alyssa Naeher started all but one of them. It's a pretty clear indication of who the starter is going forward, as Naeher looks set to retain her spot for at least one more tournament.

  That's bad news for Casey Murphy and Jane Campbell, both of whom would have liked to use this tournament as a springboard to more minutes. Murphy got in, starting the 4-0 win over Argentina. Campbell, the 2023 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year, did not.

  This Gold Cup was all Naeher. Her mistake late in the semifinal against Canada could have been costly, but her superhuman performance in the shootout, both as a goalkeeper and as a penalty taker, erased any doubt. Naeher is still here and still going strong, and it seems that'll be the case in France this summer.

Pakistan gained a mental advantage over Australia by dominating Aaron Finch’s team in a match that served as a dress rehearsal for Sunday’s Twenty20 triangular tournament final at the Harare Sports Club.Having beaten Pakistan comfortably in their first meeting, the Australians put in an unfocused performance, dropping far too short with the new ball after Finch sent Sarfraz Ahmed’s side in to bat to allow Fakhar Zaman to fire off a succession of pull shots on his way to the highest score of the match. They then lost a series of early wickets to the late moving ball in the hands of Faheem Ashraf and the 18-year-old left-armer Shaheen Afridi.Having slid as low as 75 for 5, Australia never looked likely to get close to their target, though the wicketkeeper and vice-captain Alex Carey played another intelligent innings down the order. Pakistan’s victory also served the purpose of preventing Australia from taking their place at the top of the ICC’s T20 international rankings.Both sides had already qualified for Sunday’s tournament final, making this game chiefly a chance to gain information and psychological high ground. Australia kept the same side that delivered comfortable wins over Pakistan and Zimbabwe to be the first team to reach the decider. Pakistan included the youthful Afridi for his second T20I in place of Hasan Ali, while Usman Khan came in for Mohammad Nawaz.4:18

‘Steven Smith is the toughest batsman to bowl to’

On a cold morning in Harare, Billy Stanlake failed to induce the sort of early collapse he had been responsible for in Monday’s match. While Jhye Richardson enjoyed the good fortune of having Haris Sohail clip his first delivery straight to square leg to depart for a golden duck, the Pakistan top order were able to feast on a generous helping of short stuff.Fakhar was the major beneficiary, flashing nine boundaries and a trio of sixes on the way to the highest score of his T20I career thus far – he is Pakistan’s leading run-maker in this tournament by a distance, and will require far more careful planning by Australia’s pacemen and coaches ahead of the decider.They reached 80 inside nine overs before Hussain Talat was cramped for room by Glenn Maxwell’s off-breaks and bowled, and from there a series of nifty partnerships ensured that Finch’s side was unable to restrict the run rate. A particularly heavy toll was taken from the bowling of Ashton Agar, while 18 runs from the final over rather disfigured Aaron Tye’s previously excellent figures.Needing a rapid start given the task they were facing, Finch and D’Arcy Short were instead confounded by Pakistan’s fast men pitching the ball much further up to the bat and finding movement both in the air and off the seam. Finch was cornered by an Afridi delivery bending back at him and was caught behind off the inside edge, then Travis Head’s minimal footwork was exposed when Faheem Ashraf seamed one back to pluck out middle stump.Maxwell managed a pair of boundaries before he played around a late inswinger from Afridi that pinned him in front of middle stump, and the innings of Nic Maddinson – who made the squad despite being cut from the New South Wales contract list – lasted only eight balls before he misread a well-pitched wrong’un from Shadab Khan and was comfortably stumped.Short had persevered without timing the ball with anything like the power of which he is capable, but was well and truly beaten by the yorker Afridi served up on his return to the bowling crease. From there it was largely a matter of damage limitation for the Australians, as Carey knocked the ball around with the sort of resourcefulness that is quickly becoming his trademark without ever looking likely to threaten a distant target.Pakistan will now go into the final with plenty of confidence, while the Australians must face Zimbabwe before reconsidering their approach to Fakhar, Afridi and the rest of Sarfraz’s team.